Trivia: Well happy Monday morning, I guess the question of Saturday stumped you as much as it did me. So.... here is the question, Which president was sworn into the office of president by his nickname? Well he was Jimmy Carter, while his natural born name was James Carter. He was known as Jimmy a man of few words. His inaugural address was only 1,211 words long, while the average inaugural address are 2,340 words.
On the lighter side:
Why should you never fall in love with a tennis player? Well of course, Because to them, (Luv) Love means nothing! Do you get it? If not, as the saying goes you had to be there.
Challenge:
Psalm 5:12 "For You, O Lord, will bless the righteous; With favor You will surround him as with a shield."
Here the Psalmist describes the joy of those who have come to understand the joy and ecstasy of the believer who recognizes just how undeserving he is of our Father's protection, love, grace, and mercy. The word righteousness isn't talking about our perfection, but rather our desire to follow and obey Him due to the Father's gift of salvation.
Jack Wyrtzen used to say, "The extent of a persons joy in his salvation is comparable to the depth of the sins that they had known before salvation." I believe that to be true due to the many people who upon their salvation reflected a deep level of joy, that was based upon the sins that they committed before that day. Those ones who had lived lives far from knowing or understanding God's gift of salvation, upon receiving His saving grace were wholly transformed.
I can remember many young people who were caught up in the gang life in New York City coming to camp, and upon understanding His gift of salvation being overjoyed with the release and freedom from the weight of sin that they had before carried.
I saw many of these young men upon coming to an understanding of God's offer of salvation standing up and running down the isle to receive this forgiveness and release. The tears running down their face, the overwhelming sense of joy, couldn't be overlooked.
Then in the cabin the absolute change of course in their life, from hard, calloused, harshness to joy, release, tenderness that just coursed out of their lives. This was undeniably a work that's only God could bring. Oh the blessings of those who desire to walk in righteousness.
Many of these young men then joined our TWA program, where these young men took a two week survival course where we taught them to live off of God's provisions. We had the fish that we caught, and the wild vegetation that was on the land for breakfast. Trail mix for lunch as we traversed the over 2,000 lakes, and left trailing a baited line for catching our fish for our evening meal. Most of them had never lived outside of the concrete jungle, here they were like sponges hungering to know more about this God who they had found who loved them and had a purpose for their lives.
They learned survival and the necessity of partnering with all 20 boys for their daily needs, far away from civilization. In the dark setting around a fire and without any comforts, finding this to be a place of joy, and care for one another, where they all learned for many the very first time a family unity, care and compassion, selfless team efforts, etc.
I remember upon arriving back at the main camp, hearing them sighing due to a warm shower, and hot tasty food, and a soft bed. Then later on the reality that they were leaving this close family unit where love and acceptance was felt by all, they would cry, hug, sorrow over this lose. Then we would share around the cabin how that, yes they were leaving these friends, but that they had been now joined with their Father who would be with them, and never leave them, ass well as, gather them to others in His forever family.
Upon arriving to the city we would introduce them to the youth leaders in their city, in varying areas of town. Then they would share with their group leader nearest their neighborhood, and would begin the brotherhood, discipleship process that evening. The brotherhood / fatherhood of God experience then grew, and changed these young gang members who went back and invited their friends to come and hear about this salvation and relationship with a loving, caring, protecting God, and His family.
SO GO WITH GOD my dear one for He knows our struggles, and yes even our failures, and still He holds out His arms to daily enter His place of care, joy, and fullfilment. Oh your not alone in these things, for the Father is with you and has many other friends who make up His forever family.